The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has announced that 24 fellows have been selected for its Inaugural Presidential Leadership Academy, La Academia de Liderazgo. The program is designed to increase Hispanic representation in presidential positions in higher education.

La Academia is a direct response to the declining percentage of Hispanic university presidents (from 4.5% in 2006 to 3.9% in 2016), despite the unprecedented growth of U.S. Hispanic college student enrollment. Soon, if not already, one in five college students will be Hispanic, yet it is unlikely that many will enroll in a college or university with a Hispanic president.  HACU is committed to reversing this 10-year decline by implementing an innovative academy that sets itself apart from other leadership programs in a variety of ways.

The academy is specifically designed to increase the number of talented individuals who will serve as presidents and chancellors of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Emerging HSIs.  Fellows selected for the program will participate in an array of leadership development activities that will not only prepare them for leadership roles in the full spectrum of institutions of higher learning but will especially sensitize and mold them for leadership positions within HSIs and Emerging HSIs.

It also addresses a recent ACE (American Council on Education) report. The report, Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report, examines more than 200 indicators drawn from 11 data sources, the majority of which were collected by federal agencies—the Department of Education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. An accompanying microsite allows users to download the report and explore the data in greater detail.

“While communities of color have made tremendous educational headway over the last several decades, we cannot lose focus. Substantial and pervasive inequities still remain. Making higher education and its benefits accessible to people from all backgrounds is imperative for the well-being and advancement of American society,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “We hope this report and its accompanying microsite promote dialogue and action among those who strive to adapt and respond to the needs of students, faculty, and staff of color.”

The report found racial and ethnic diversity among college faculty, staff and administrators still does not reflect that of today’s college students. Between 1996 and 2016, the non-White share of undergraduates grew from 29.6% to 45.2%, while the non-White share of graduate students grew from 20.8% to 32.0%. Even so, college faculty, staff and administrators remain predominantly White.

The release of the ACE study makes HACU’s new initiative even more timely and essential to the development of the diversity in the highest levels of higher education leadership.

Selected Fellows will participate in an array of leadership development activities designed to prepare them for leadership roles in the full spectrum of institutions of higher learning, but with a focus on leadership positions within Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Emerging HSIs.

Fellows will participate in three week-long face-to-face seminars integrated with HACU’s highly regarded Annual Conference, Capitol Forum and International Conference/Experience outside the U.S.

The curriculum will emphasize Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Emerging HSIs, but provide a holistic approach, including the search process, leadership fundamentals, current critical issues and international relations.

Hybrid content delivery with both in-person sessions and synchronous/asynchronous webinars will allow a high degree of flexibility for busy work schedules.

Mentorship with a university president will be a key component, as will be the development of a special project designed to have an impact at the Fellow’s current institution.

“The Presidential Leadership Academy, La Academia de Liderazgo, meets HACU’s mission to champion Hispanic success in Hispanic higher education,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “By preparing more Latinos/Latinas for leadership roles with a special focus on Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HACU and the Fellows who participate will have a profound impact on the students they serve and the institutions they lead.”

The one-year fellowship program includes three seminars, with the first taking place in conjunction with HACU’s 33rd Annual Conference, “Championing Hispanic Higher Education Success: Meeting the Challenge of Prosperity and Equality,” in Chicago, Illinois. The second seminar will lead into HACU’s 25th Annual Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education in Washington, D.C., in April 2020. The third seminar will be held in late spring or early summer of 2020, with a focus on international collaborations.

More than a dozen nationally recognized current and emeriti presidents and senior-level administrators with 100 plus years of combined experience will serve on the faculty. Mentorship with a university president will be a key component, as will be the development of a special project designed to have an impact at the Fellow’s current institution.

The following are the founding institutions of HACU’s Inaugural Presidential Leadership Academy:

•  American Federation of Teachers

•  California State University, Fresno

•  Case Western Reserve University

•  Colorado State University-Pueblo

•  Dallas County Community College District

•  DePaul University

•  Montclair State University

•  Morton College

•  New Jersey City University

•  Northeastern Illinois University

•  Northern Essex Community College

•  St. Augustine College

•  St. Thomas University

•  Universidad Central de Caribe

•  Universidad Mayor (Chile)

•  University of California, Davis

•  University of California, San Diego

•  University of Houston-Downtown

•  University of Illinois at Chicago

•  University of Michigan

•  University of Texas at Austin

•  University of Texas at San Antonio

 

Source The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education public reports

 

The Inaugural Class of Future Presidents

Here is a list of HACU’s Inaugural Presidential Leadership Academy, La Academia de Liderazgo Fellows selected and their home institutions:

• Floralba Arbelo, Ed.D. -- Albizu University

• Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D. -- California State University, Fresno

• Suzanne Rivera, Ph.D. -- Case Western Reserve University

• Derek López, Ph.D. -- Colorado State University-Pueblo

• Javier E. Olguín, Ph.D. -- Dallas County Community College District

• Oscar M. López -- Dallas County Community College District

• Elizabeth Ortiz, Ed.D. -- DePaul University

• Katia Paz Goldfarb, Ph.D. -- Montclair State University

• Marisol Velázquez -- Morton College

• José Balda -- New Jersey City University

• Daniel López, Jr., Ph.D. -- Northeastern Illinois University

• Noemí Custodia-Lora, Ph.D. -- Northern Essex Community College

• Carmen Arellano, Psy.D. -- St. Augustine College

• Luis C. Fernández Torres, Ph.D. -- St. Thomas University

• Waleska Crespo-Rivera, Ph.D. -- Universidad Central de Caribe

• Alex Slater, Ph.D. -- Universidad Mayor (Chile)

• Mario Herane -- Universidad Mayor (Chile)

• Raquel E. Aldana, J.D. -- University of California, Davis

• Olivia A. Graeve, Ph.D. -- University of California, San Diego

• Daniel Villanueva, Jr. -- University of Houston-Downtown

• Rudy M. Molina, Jr., Ph.D. -- University of Illinois at Chicago

• Ana Catalina Ormsby -- University of Michigan

• Victor B. Sáenz, Ph.D. -- University of Texas at Austin

• Enrique Alemán, Jr., Ph.D. -- University of Texas at San Antonio

 

Information about the program is available at http://www.hacu.net/leadershipacademy

 

Source The Hispanic Association of Colleges